Sorting mechanism for linotype-machines.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

J. FROEHLIGH. SORTING MECHANISM FOR ,LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1907- s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' Kilian (4 PATBNTED JUNE 9, 1908.

J. FROEHLIGH. SORTING MECHANISM FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1901.

e SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ph lro 0h lie/l a ica No. 890,269. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

J. FROEHLIOH.

SOBTING MECHANISM FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1: a: XL 60 g b 5s 55 52 50 g vwe ntoz 9513M vel/homu n dim'vdmmuPATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

I. FROEHLIOH. SORTING MECHANISM FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

c7 Wue whoa m x u aa- 6 5%; E m w n 1 5 O I. 5 W [PM W H M-IIHIH\IIIPATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. J. FROBHLIGH. I SORTING MECHANISM FOR LINOTYPEMAG HINES.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 10, 1907.

F 8}EETs-SHEET c5415 14-. I

| l l I IF awe-anew dame Haw No. 890,269. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

J. PROBHLIOH. SORTING/MECHANISM FOR LINOTYPE MACHINES.

APPLIGAQTION FILED JUNE 10. 1907.

8 woe wtoz UNITED STATES PA'rENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FROEHLICH, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR To MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COM- PANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SORTIN G MECHANISM FOR LINOTYPE-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed June 10, 1907. Serial No. 378,270.

I citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at the borough of Brooklyn, city, county, and State of New York,have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Sorting Mechanismfor Linotype-Machines, of which the following is a specifica tion. I

My invention relates to an improvement in linotype machines used inprinting for producing bars of metal on which forms of characters to beprinted are cast.

The type of machine to which the present improvement is applied isprovided with a magazine ada ted to-hold asupply of matrices of the dierent characters and to maintain them separated into groups. A keyboardhaving a-key correspondin to each grou is operatively connected to t emagazine y a meansfor releasing a matrix from any group when thecorresponding key is pressed. The matrix released is conducted by asuitable mechanism to its place inthe line and locked therein.A'quantity of molten t pe metal is brought into contact with the 'ne ofmatrices and a bar cast having'on its edge characters corresponding tothose of the matrices.

In order that the characters produced on the type bar may correspond $0the keys pressed the matrices must be sorted so that each group willcontain only matrices of like characters.

The present invention relates-to means for sorting the matrices to thisend and pro 1 'vides mechanism to which the lines of matrices are fedafter having beencast and by which they are sorted into groups.

The object of my invention is to aid the selection of these matrices byseparating them into as many groups as may be desired. My device maybe'used for distributing matrices for eac letter into separate groups,but the purpose to which I apply my 'inventionis to eflect a primarysorting of matrices into fonts or other grand divisions, leaving thedistribution of matrices into character channels to a second operation.By separating this operation into two stages I am enabled to consolidatetheapparatus and greatly shorten the distances which the matrices haveto travel, besides simplifying the means by whichselection of fontsand-characters is accomplished."

base plate and combinatio uting screws and side guide'being removed.

' channels. 7 p 12-12 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of ahne ofmatrices in position to be fed to the sorting mechanism, the firstmatrix being depressed in position to be acted upon by the ejector. Fig.6 is asection in the same plane, showing a matrix in the position which1t occupies immediately after being ejected and engaged by the conveyingscrews. Fig.

7 is a transverse section through the feedingdevice on line 7 7 of Fig.8, looking in the direction of the screws. Fig. 8 is a-'fra mentary viewtaken from the lefthand si e of themachine, certain parts being brokenaway to show the ejector and its actuating mechanism. Fig. 9 is a'top.lan view of the 11 bar, the distrib- Fig. 10 is an end View of the same.Fig. 11

is an elevation looking from the right, show-- ,ing the base plate, thecombination bar, the

supporting bar, the side guide and the drop Fig. 12 is a section on theline the arrows. Fig. 13 is a, transverse section on the line 13-13 ofFig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 14 is a section onthe line 1414 of Fig. '4', looking'in the disengaged from the supportingbar resting on the wards of the com ination bar. Fig.

' 26 is a section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 4,

- same direction, the parts in the rear of the showing a matrixdisengaged from the sup porting bar, a ward on the combination barregistering with a nick inthe matrix. Figs. '27 and 28 are detail viewsof the depressor. Fig. 29 is a detail view of the ejector. Fig.

30 is a view of the ejector shown in connection with a matrix. Fig. 31is a view of the ejector, shown in connection with the first twomatrices of the line which is being fed. Figs. 32, 33 and 34 are,respectively, aside, end and top plan view of the lefthandrail of theraceway.

Similar elements 'areldesignated by similar reference characters in thedifferent figures 5 of the drawings. Referring to F'g. 11, the sortingmechanism consists of a base plate 1 and a combination 9 bar 100. On thebase plate is mounted at the front end a bracket 2, and'at the rear enda secofndbracket 3, both rigidlyattached to ,the base plate. Journaledat each end in the, brackets and extending between them ;are threeparallel distributing or conveying screws 4,5, and 6 (see Figs. 3, 7,'13) provided with threads of equal pitch, the axes of the screws 4 and5 being in the same horizontal plane while the axes] of the screws'4 and6 are in the same vertical plane. Journaled on a stud rigidlymounted inan arm 7 of the rear bracket 3 is a pulley 8 (Figsl', 2

3) adapted tobe driven by any suitable driv'-.

ing means from a convenient source of power. Rigidly connected by meansof a sleeve 9 to the pulley 8 to rotate therewith is agear 10' whichmeshes with the gears 11 and 12 rigidly mounted on the screws 4 and 6,respectively. The gear 11 meshes with the gear 13 on the screw 5 so that'screws 4 and 6 rotate in one direction, in this case lefthanded, whilescrew 5 rotates in the opposite direction, or righthanded. The gears11,12 and 13 are of equal diameters and.have each the same number ofteeth, so that the distributing screws 4, 5 and 6 have each the samespeed-of revolution. The spiral gear 14 mounted on the forward end ofthe upper righthandconveyer'screw 4 to rotate therewith, meshes with aspiral gear 15'rigidly mounted on a transverse shaft 16 fjournaled inthe bracket 2 so that rotary motion of uniform speed is transmitted fromthe screw 4 to the trans-.

verse shaft. "A bell crank lever 17 (see Fig. 2) rigidly mountedon atransverse shaft 18 journaled in the bracket 2 carries a rollei 19,-

which engages the surf ace of a cam 20 which is mounted on the shaft 16to rotate therewith. The arm 25 of the bell crank lever 17 is connectedby means of a spring 26 with a" pin 27 in'the bracket. The tension ofthe spring tends to maintain the roller 19 in contactwith the cam, sothat the lever 17 and the shaft 18 are given an oscillating motionas'the cam; rotates. The bracket 2 (see Fig. '1) is slottedlongitudinally of'the machine at. 21, and in this ,the stud 34in arecess in the lefthand face of outerends.

horizontal arm 43,v both extending to the slot is a lever 22, which willhereafter be known as the depressor or cut-off member.

This lever forms a rigid structure with the shaft 18, as shown in Figs.27 and 28 and oscillates therewith. It extends in the di- 7 rection ofthe feed, and in its de ressed position is substantially horizontal Therear end of this lever is provided on its :under side with aforwardly-disposed shoulder 23 and a downwardly disposed ressing surface24, extending to a point wel between the conveyer screws. A cam' 28(Fig. 8) is mounted on the lefthand end of the shaft 16 to rotatetherewith. Th'e cam is engaged by a roller. 29 ivotally mounted on theend of one arm of t e bell crank lever 30, tov the other arm 31 of whichis connected one end of a spring-32 attached at its other extremity to apin 33 in a stationary portion of the machine. The lever 30 is rigidlymounted on a stud 34 which is journaled in the lefthand side of thebracket 2 andextends inwardly to the face of the slot 21.

\ Rigidly mounted on the inner extremity of the slot 21 is a lever 35which extends downwardly from the stud 34 and is oscillated vertically.by the cam '28 and the spring 32, which latter tends to maintain theroller 29 in contact with the face of the cam 28.

- The lower end of the lever 35 is slotted to receive a pin 36- on theejector 37 between the rails 40 and 46 near their rear ends (see Figs.7, 8 and 13) the slot being to compen sate for the arcuate motion of thelever and the rectilinear motion of the pin. The pins 36 and 98 are fastin the ejector and extend through elongated holes 99 in the rail 40.These pins are provided with heads on their The head on the pin 93engages the outer surface of the rail, whilethe head on the pin 36 bearsagainst the outersurface of lever 35. Both pins guide the ejector andmaintain it in contact with the rail 40. The 1 ejector is provided withan extension 38 11.0 adapted to engage the lon itudinal slot; 39, Fig.32, in the inner 'faceof the lefthai'rd-rail 40. of the raceway 4%.,partially closed at its rear end by the block 42. The oscillation of thelever 35 gives to the ejector 37 a reciproeating motion in a horizontalplane. Looking at the ejector (Figs; 29, 30, 3].)in end elevation, as inFig. 31,-it will be seen to be provided with a vertical arm 44 whichlies against the inner face of the rail 40 and at its 120 lowerextremity with a laterally extending rear. The ejector is slpttedlaterally at 45 to receive-the projection atthe lower right hand'cornerof each matrix.

The parallel rails 40 and 46 of inverted L-r shaped cross section, arerigid ly' attached to the inner surfaces of theslot 21in. the bracket 2and extend'forwardly from the rear face of this bracket a distancedepending upon the 1 4 0 length of line which it is desired to sort.Between these: rails at their forward extremity is interposed a block 47(Fig. 3) to which. the rails 40 and 46 are attached,

forming a rigid structure which will be termed a raceway, and the innervertical faces of which are spaced adistance apart slightly reater thanthe'width of the matrices. 'lhe rails 40 and 46 (see Fig. 7) are 9provided at their upper edge with inwardly disposed horizontal anges .48forming one arm of the Ls, having their inner edges parallel and spacedto engage the matrices in sliding relation at the cut-away ortion my;Fig.24, in the sides of the matrices, so that the downwardly disposedfaces 75 rest. on the tops of the flanges. At their forward portions theflanges are cut away (see Fig. 3) to form the openin 49 at the forwardend of the raceway equal in lateral extent to the distance between theinner flat vertical surfaces of the rails, and slightly greater than thegreatest lateral dimension of the matrices. The inner faces of the railsare provided near their lower edges with-slots 50, which extend.substantially their entire length. A follower 51, having a base or plate52 engaging the slots 50, slides in the space between the rails 40 and46. This follower has a flat vertical rear surface 53, which is adaptedto engage the forward member ofa line of mat.

rices-which is fed by suitable mechanisminto the openin 49 and betweenthe rails of the raceway. he follower is laterally enlarged at its upperextremity 54 for the urpose of afiording an extended bearing surfece to,the matrices. weight 55, connected thereto by acord 56, which asses overa pulley 57, and is attached to the bracket 58 on the base'of thefollower. The follower presses the matrices against the stop shoulder(62) hereinafter described, the pressure on the matrices being constant.

Extending longitudinally of the machine, intermediate of and parallel,to the screws 4 and 5 and resting at its rear end on the upper surfaceof the bracket 3 and its forward end attached to the lower surface of across-bar- 59 of the bracket 2, is the su portingbar 60, sometimes knownas the lstributerbar. This bar isprovided with a de ending longi-'tudinal central tongue or kee 61, having a,

60 spond to and are a apted to engage teeth in t 1e matrices by whichthe latter are suspended in sliding relation to the bar. The teeth onthe bar project outwardly while the teeth on the matrices projectinwardly. The teeth on the bar are cut'away at intervals,as shown shownin'Figs. 15 to 22.

The follower is'actuated by the in Figs. 1.1 and 26, to form rectangularlongitudinally extending shoulders 66, 67 and 68,

having vertical lateral surfaces.

Directly beneath the supporting bar 60, formed in the base plate, andeach spanned by a ortion of the supporting bar which is provi ed withteeth, is a series of drop channels-69 equal in number to the cut-awayor;

tions of the teeth (see Fig. 11). These rop channels divide thecombination bar 100 into sections. In advance of and between the dropchannels the sections 70 of the combination bar 100 form ways onwhich'the matrices may slide. These sections present'at their forwardextremities supporting surfaces 71, which are upwardly and rearwardlyinclined. 1 These surfaces as shown, are slightly convex. The remainderof the surface of each section is milled down to form longitudisection,sothat the cross section of the combination bar taken between any twoapertures is different from a cross section of the bar taken betweenevery other two apertures, as The u per surfaces of the wards arehorizontaland ush with the u per portion of the inclined forwardsurface. T e up er surfaces of the wards and the upper sur acejs 9f thecombination bar between th8 wards form upper and lowerguiding surfaces,so that the matrices are separatedinto grou s, and those which registerwith the.

war s' are guided in a lower path while those The which do not registertherewith are guided in the teeth of'the supporting bar. nation bar 100is provided with a side bar 73, which is cut away at 74 opposite thedrop channels, as shown in Fig. 13, to allow easy an upper path withtheirteetn on a line with:

The combiaccess of the matrices'to the dropchannelsi The matrices tobe-used in connectionwiththis machine (see Figs. 30 and 31) resembleinmany respects-those in common use in the .art.fl The term front andrear? as applied to the faces of the matrices are used 1n the same sense'in which they are applied to the machine: The front face of a matrix isthe face disposed towards the front of the machine whenthe matrix isengagedby the" distributing mechanism. Each matrix consists of a flatbloc'kpf metal, substantiall oblong in outline, as seen in front orreare evation, as in Figs. 26 and.31, and of varying thickness inaccordance with the character to be'formed. In the upper side is a notch101,

. tending downwardly disposed shoulders 75 .operation. The recess on theright is enlarged to'form a slot 83, through which the ejector extendsinto contact with the matrix just cut off. In the lower surface of thematrix are nicks 1.05 (see Figs. 1522') of different outline anddifferently laced in the matrices of different groups/ n the rearsurface of the matrix is a slot 76 to receive the positioning means. Inthe operation of the machine the follower 51 is drawn forward againstthe action of the weight and a line'of matrices presented in the opening49 between the ways and supported therein ,by any suitable mechanism,which it is .thought unnecessary to illustrate. The presenting means iswithdrawn and the follower released on which the weight 55, actingthrough the flexible connection 56, ac tuates the follower toengage thematrices and 'move them along the raceway beyond the opening 49, so thattheir laterally ex- (Fig. 7) are brought into engagement with the uppersurfaces of the top flanges'48'of the rails 40 and upon Which thematrices are thickness of all the matrioe s between the bottom ofthe'slot 76 and'thedront surface 77 is equal. By this arran ement theposition of the front surface of the first matrix is determinedwhen theslot isenga ed by the stop shoulder, and this position is the same inthe case of each matrix. successively, without regard-to its totalthickness. Thus, when the first matrix of theseries is broughtintoengagement with the cut-off shoulder '62 of the supportingfbarthatmatrixis in position I ofthe fr ont su to .bejoperatively enga ed, bythe depressor lever, t e pressing su 'ace of which, .24 is directly overthe u per surface of the matrix and the verticals oulder, 23, of whichis,

when the lever is brought into contact with the matrix, slightlyin therear of the plane I ace of the latter. By this arrangemerit the first.matrix A, (see Fig. 4),

may be cut off ordepressed by the downwardrnovement-of the depressorwithout the"latter coming contact with or disturbing the next' matr x.

The horizontalextension of the ejector 37 it will be noted ofcc upiesaposition beofa safety deyice'to 'suc matrix in case it should s atricesof the line. '{it serves the urpose port the orward 1p out'of contactneath the forward When-in this positi clogged.

with the shoulder 62, due to its recoil when it strikes this shoulder.withdrawn by the action of the cam 28, the

' lever 30, 31, and the arm 35, so that the first matrix is unsupportedthereby; As the cam The ejector is now 20 rotates it permits thedepressor'lever to be lowered by the action of the spring 26 and thelever 17 to the position in W ich it is shown in Fig. 5 The depressor isnot ositively, but yieldingly, actuated, so that if a matrix becomesdisplaced or clogged. neither it nor the machine is injured. The forwardmatrix A is engaged by the presser foot 24 of the depressor an'd'movedout of contact with the cut-off shoulder to a position in which itslohver surface rests on the top surface of the combination bar near itsforward extremity. The tension of the spring 26 acting on the lever 17maintains tlie lower horizontal surface of the de ressor in contact\with the up- The movement of the first matrix matrix next following theone cut off takes a position with its face in contact with the shoulder23 -of the depressor lever by which is arrested. This shoulder preventsthe matrix just cut off from being prematurely its movement in responseto the follower 51 advanced into contact with the screws by the pressureof the follower on the line. The

ejector is next advanced to the position 32 on the lever 31 controlledthrough the ing action which does not injure the matrix or break themachineifthe matrices become The cam is sov timed in relation to theconveying screws'that the matrix is in-.- serted between the screws ustin advance of the descent of the forward ends 78, 79 ,-30 of the threadsof the screws' I Fig. 31 shows in elevation looking from the rear, thematrix A just cut off from the line and beyond it the first matrix B,remaining in the line. ,Theslots 83 are of uni' form size and similarlyplaced inall the matrices, so that when the matrices are in line theslots register and form an opening extending't'hrough the line. Thewalls of the opening are plane;- In this opening the e ector arm 44reciprocates'but it does not enga e thematrices when they arei'nline.The orm' of the e'ector is clearly 'shownin shown in Fig. 6 by theaction of the spring roller 30 bythe cam .28. This gives aiyield- Fig.30. When t e end matrix A is de pressed or cut off the shoulder whichborders the upper portion of the slot enters the path of the ejector arm44 and its lower portion enters the path of the horizontal arm 43, whichextends backwards beneath nthe matrices is had at one side nearthe upperportion. The ejector thuspresentedto the matrix serves to. advance 1t inan'upright position as it is held by the depressor with its ower surfaceresting on the combination bar. The block 42' is inserted in the slot 39for the purpose of preventing the lowercorner of the descendin matrixfrom entering the said slot and there y interrupting the action of themachine. The matrix which has just been cut oif and advancedhorizontally by the ejlector within their reach is now engaged by t ethreads of the conveying 'screws and moved thereby along the combinationbar. The de ressor is raised by the action of the cam releasing 'the'first matrix remainin in' the line, so that the whole line is advancedby the follower, the first matrix being brought vIinto contact withthe'cut-ofl" shoulder 62.

It is to be observed that the matrix line is vpressed constantly forwardin an'endwise irection, and that the foremost matrices are carried downone after another from the line and away from'the detaining surface intothe path of the reciprocating ejector 44, by which they are advancedhorizontally one at a time, within reach of the feed screws 4 and5, by

p which they are carried along the distributer bar from which they aresus ended. If the nicks 105 in the lower edge 0 the matrix do notregister with the wards 72 on the first;

. ticular: portion of the combination bar the matrix will advance in thelower ath, resting on the lower guiding surface 0 the combination bar(see Fi 26). In this ,path its teeth 84 will avoid t e teeth of thesupport- .ing bar, so that when the screws move the matrix to a' ositionover the first drop channel 69' it'w be without means of support andwill therefore enter this channel. the

nicks of the matrix do not register with the wards on the section of thecombination bar in advance of the first channel 69, its teeth will, asreviously described, engage the teeth of t e sup orting bar and thematrix. will be suspended the channel by the screws. This operation willbe repeated in the case of each matrix until it arrives at a'section ofthecombination bar the wards of which register with the nicks in itslower surface, when the matrix will follow the lower path, resting onthe lower guiding surface so that its teeth do not enga e the teeth of'thesupporting bar and it w'l enter into the next succeeding dropchannel. A channel may be provided into which all the matrices nototherwise sorted will enter. This channel should follow a or tion of thecombination bar on which t ere are no wards; or the portion of thesupport ing bar bywhich this channel is spanned may be rovided'with nomatrix-engaging means. ach matrix will drop into the channel followingthe portion of the combination bar with the wards of which it registersand the-matrices will be sorted in accordance with the nicks in theirlower edges and delivered to the different channels. 'ber ofcombinations and channels may be va- The num-- ried and increased toseparate the matrices into any number of groups.

After the matrices are separated into groups, each group commonlyrepresenting those of one font or set, they maybe delivered to anysuitable distributing mechanisms for delivering the individual matricesto the proper channels in their magazines, these mechanisms forming nopart of the present invention. The matrices of one group, however, whichpass over the last drop-channel 69 without falling therein, willcontinue their'course under the influence of the propelling screws alongthe distribution bar 60,

as indicated in F1g-.- 3. The distributing teeth of this bar and thecorresponding teeth of the matrices may be constructed and arranged inthe manner set forth in U. S. patents to Mer enthaler Nos. 347,629 and436,531. It wil be observed that under this arrangement, ,the onedistributer-bar 60 serves first to assist in dividing the groups ormatrices into fonts, and thereafter to distribute those of one font inthe usual manner.

Having thus described a single embodiment of my invention, what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a sorting device for alinotype ma chine, a matrix-feeding means comprising a positioning meansfor en aging aslot in'each matrixthe depth of the s 0t corresponding tothe thickness of the matrix, an ejector, means for moving the ejector,means for supporting a line of matrices and pressing them toward by thebar and carried over is engaged thereby, and means for disengaging thefirst matrix from the positioning means, whereby it is brought into thepath of the ejector. I I

2. In a sorting device for a linotype machine, a matrixfeeding meanscomprising a positioning means for engaging successivel 1n each matrix adepression of such dept that the thickness of the matrices measured,

from the bottom of the depression shall be a constantquantity, anejector, means for reci'procating the ejector longitudinally of themachine, means for supporting a line of matrices and pressing themtoward the positioning means so that the first matrix of the line isengaged thereby, and means for disengaging the first'matr'ix from thepositioning means whereby it is brought into the path ofv the ejector.

3. In a s orting device for a linotypemachine, means for conveyingmatrices to' a plurality of channels, and a cut-ofi shoulder,

means for ressin a hne of matrices against the shoul er so t at thefirstmatrix is engaged thereby, an ejector, means for cuttingofi thefirst matrix from the line and disen- 7 gaging it from the cut-offshoulder and bringing it into the ath of the ejector, and a stopshoulder by w ich the matrices of the line are restrained from forwardmovement and means foractuating theejector to bring the thereby cuttingit ofi from the line and bring ingfl'it into' the tpath of the ejector,means properly timed or actuating the ejector to present the matrix cutoff to the conveying means to 'be operatively engaged thereby.

5. Irya sorting device for lmotypema'chine, a support, means forconveying matrices along the support, a plurality of channels in thepath of the matrices, a cut-off shoulder, means for pressin a line ofmatrices against the shoulder so -t at the firstmatrix is en- "gagedthereby, an ejector, a'depressor, means or" actuating the depressor todisengage the first matrix from the cut-oifshoulder-to cut -it off'from' the line and to press the matrix against the support and meansfor actuating the ejector to presentthe matrix to the. conveying meansto be operatively engaged;

thereby, a 1

6. Ina sorting device for a linot machine, aaconveyer, a cut-01f shouer, an

e ector, :yieldin means for moving the e'ec-. tor longitudinayof themachine, time to' .=-cdoperate with the conveyor, means for ressin aline of matrices against the shouler s.0 t at the first matrix isengaged theretrix from the cut-ofi shoulder whereby it is brou ht intothe path of the ejector.

7.. n a sorting device for a linotype machine, feeding means for-thematrices comprising a means for positioning each'matrix successively, anejector, means for moving the ejector longitudinally of the machine,

by, and means fordisengaging the first ma-.

means for presslng the matrices against-the positioning means, andme'ansfor disengagmg the first matrix from the positioning means, wherebyitis'brought into the" path of the ejector.

8. In a sorting device for linotype' machines, means for feeding a lineof matrices comprising means for positioning each matrix of the linesuccessively with its front face in a predetermined transverse plane, anejector; means for pressing the matrices agalnst tIe ppsitioning means,and means for cutting O li y it is brought into the path of the ejector.9. In a sorting device for a linotype ma chine, feeding means for thmatrices comprising a cut-ofi shoulder, me s for pressing e first matrixfrom the lineand disen-- gaging it from" the positioning means, where--the matrices against theshoulder so that the first matrix is engagedthereby, an ejector extending beneath and adapted tosupport the first matrix, means for reciprocating the 1 ejector, and means for disen agingthe first matrix from the cutofl. shou der and bringing it into the pathof the' 'ejector.

10. In a sortmg device for a linotype machine, means for conveyingmatrices to aphirality of channels,-a cut-off shoulder, means forpressing a line of matricesagainst the shoulder so that the first,matrix is engaged thereby,-an ejector extending beneath and' adapted tosupport the first matrix, means for reciprocat ng the ejector andthereby withdrawin it from beneath the first matrix, means for isengaginthe first matrix from the cut-offshoulder W lo the ejector is'withdrawnand bringing it into the path of the ejector."

-1 1. In a sorting device for a linotype ma chine, means for conveyingmatrices to a plurality of channels, a cut-off shoulder, means forpressing a "line of matrices against the shoulder so that thefi'rstmatrix is engaged thereby, an ejector, means for supporting the firstmatrix, and means for reciprocating theejector and withdrawing the suport, means for disengagin the fir'stmatrix om the cutoff shoulder w ilethe support is withdrawn and bringing it into the path of the, ejectorwhereby it is -presented to the; conveying me s.. 1 In a sorting devicefor linotype machin means for conveying matrices to a pluralit ofchannels, means forcutting off a matrix om aline, and 'a' memberextending 13o 13. In a sorting device for a linotype machine, means forconveying matrices to a pinrality of channels, means for cutting'off/a matrixfrom the line, and an ejector 'having'a' member extending throughan opening formed by registering slots in the matricesof the line, andadaptedto engage the surface of the ma'trices' cut-oii adjacent its slotand another member adapted to engage the over lapping portion of thematrix cut ofi, and means for actuating the ejector whereby the matrixcut oiiis brought into operative engagement with the conveyer.

14. In a sorting device for a linotype machine. means for conveyingmatrices to aplurality of channels, means for presenting a line ofmatrices to the conveyer, means for outting off a matrix from the line,and an ejector extending through an opening in the matrices of the lineand engaging the matrix cut off whereby the latter is brought intooperative engagement with the conveyer.

15. In a sorting device for a linotype machine, means for conveyingmatrices to a plurality of channels, means for presenting a line ofmatrices to the conveying means, means for cutting oii'a matrix from theline, and an ejector a portion of which extends through an opening inthe matrices of the line and engages the matrix cut off and anotherportion of which extends by a lateral face of the matrix of the line andengages the matrix cut ofl, whereby the latter is brought into operativerelation with the conveyer.

'16. In a sortingv device for a linotype machine, means for conveyingmatrices to a plurality of channels, and means for feeding matrices tothe conveying means consisting ofa follower, a depressor and an e ector;17, In a sorting device, a stop shoulder,

means for pressing matrices toward the shoulder whereby the end matrix ssus-* pended by frictional contact therewith, an ejector, means foractuating the ejector, and means for cutting off the end matrix of theline and placing it in the path of the ejector.

Signed by me at New Y0rk,-N. Y., this 3rd day of June 1907.

JOSEPH FROEHLICI-L.

Witnesses:

LAURA B.-PERRAs, JACOB I. BEneEN.

